Hey, it's been a while.
Thank you for the reviews, I really appreciate them.
Keep them coming.
Anyway, another disclaimer: The Naruto universe is weird. They have movies but apparently it takes place in feudal Japan… ishy… anyway, I use a phone in this part so sorry if it bugs you.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy!
"Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship."
-Oscar Wilde
I hate mornings. Whether I'm hung over, sick, or as healthy as a newborn child, it's hard to get up. Usually my alarm rings and I slam on the snooze button at least five times, but today was very different. There was no annoying alarm or parent banging at my door, there were just birds and a bright sun to greet me with a smile.
I moaned and buried my head under the closest pillow I could find. Everything seemed extremely different this morning. The sheets my body was laying on were softer and warmer than usual… I felt extremely comfortable and safe in them… Almost like I belonged here. The scent on them was familiar but I knew it wasn't my own. It smelled good… it smelled like… well like… Kakashi.
My stomach dropped. My groggy mind realized where my body was and in whose bed I was laying on. My heart began to race and my breathing quickened. I felt like I was back in a mission.
My eyes shot open and I jumped up from the bed with the sheets around my body as if it was a trap… but there was no one there with me. By looking at the sheets of the bed and the way my body was angled, I could tell someone was sleeping with me last night.
"Damn!" I yelled but then covered my mouth.
I really hope Kakashi isn't in here.
I tiptoed across his semi empty art studio and made sure that only the bed and bookshelf were here with me. Even the small shower was empty.
I took a deep breath then exhaled.
Okay, I am safe.
As quickly as possible, I searched for his phone and found it on the most obvious spot ever (next to his bed) and I dialed Hikaru. Unfortunately, he was my only hope to get out of this mess… or whatever I did last night, which I didn't even want to think about. My only priority was to get out of the premises and into my room.
I tried to pace my breathing and not cry. Please, please don't cry.
After a couple of rings a girlish voice answered with, "This is the Yamanaka clan's Flower Shop, how may I help you?"
Okay, okay, Hisako act normal. There is absolutely nothing wrong. Unfortunately my little pep talk didn't help me. "Ino," I cried, "Please put your brother on the phone."
"Who is this?"
I started to sob, "It's… it's Hisako. Please p-put Hikaru on the phone…." At the end of my sentence my voice sounded like scared mouse's cry.
"O-okay, Hisako oneesan…"
I dropped on my knees and continued to sob for what felt like an eternity. I don't know what I did with Kakashi but I have a feeling it was nothing good… What did I do? Why did I do it? Now I've not only fucked one guy… but two… and worst of all it was Kakashi. KAKASHI. The man was almost like a teacher to me. Dear god, I'm terrible.
"Hisako!" someone's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Hisako! Kid, what's wrong?"
I didn't stop crying. "Hikaru…"
"Hisako! What's wrong? Where are you?"
I took a deep breath and tried to control myself. "Hi-hi…" I took another deep breath and continued, "Hikaru… p-please come get me. I'm freaking ooout…"
"Kid, I need you to calm down!" Hikaru commanded.
I nodded even though I knew Hikaru couldn't hear me. My body started to shiver and my teeth began to chatter. Suddenly, I felt how sore all of my muscles were and how my head hurt. It felt just like the time I lost my virginity… well except my head didn't feel like it was just sucker-punched into shinobi hell.
"Hisako you're not doing what I told you."
"I'm sorry, " I squeaked. "I'm just scared, I don't know what I just did… well what we just did and I have a hangover…"
"Wait, wait, hold on! What do you mean you don't know what WE did? Who is we kid? Where are you?"
I love how he just ignored the fact that I said hangover. I haven't gotten drunk in about a year.
I cradled the phone next to my ear as if it were my child and said, "Kakashi…"
Once I uttered Kakashi's name, Hikaru took a breath of relief and laughed, "Oh, Kakashi. God Hisako, I thought you got yourself kidnapped or something."
"This isn't funny Hikaru!" I yelled as loud as I could and then continued to sob. "I'm serious… can you please come get me…"
Hikaru sighed, "But why? Don't you want to know what happened last night? This could be your chance to ask."
My stomach dropped at the slight mention of Kakashi. "Are you crazy? I don't want to talk to him right now! I just want to go to my room, hide in my bed, and never leave again."
"Well you can still do that… in Kakashi's bed," Hikaru laughed.
If he were right in front of me, I swear I'd punch him into a bloody pulp. "Hikaru, I hate you right now. This is your fault!"
"How is this my fault? I didn't tell you to get drunk with the man! I didn't tell you to mosey on to his apartment and do whatever it is you two did."
"But you did leave me alone with him," I hissed. "You are the root of all evil and my best friend so you will come and get me now."
Hikaru groaned. "Fine, fine. Put some clothes on and I'll be there in a sec."
"I do have my clothes-" I heard the dial tone and growled.
Honestly, I don't even know what to say anymore. I don't know what to think, how don't know what to feel, and honestly I don't know what I'm going to do after this. Hiding under my covers for the rest of my life sounds like a perfectly good plan but there are always complications with that…
I jumped back on Kakashi's simple little bed and buried myself in his navy blue sheets. Well, I guess I should at least try to analyze what happened last night and figure out where the night went down hill. Well actually, I don't need to analyze a single thing! Shit went bad when decided to let Captain Morgan and Mister Jack Daniels back into my life! Everything went downhill the moment I agreed to go to a bar with Kakashi.
Damn. Why can't life just give this poor crippled girl a break?
I just really hope Hikaru can make in time before-
The lock on the door clicked and all of my hopes for salvation went down the drain. My heart felt like it was just given an adrenaline shot but my body didn't move. What do I do, what do I do?
The door opened.
Sleep! Sleep! Pretend I'm asleep. I took deep breath and tried to slow my breathing. I loosed my body and my clutch on the bed sheets. I kept my eyes slightly open and listened to the soft footsteps walking inside the art studio and softly close the door. My heart continued to beat faster but I kept my breathing in check.
The steps softly continued on to the small kitchen, which I couldn't see since the bed was at the farthest corner of the art studio, and a couple of items were dropped off on the kitchen counter.
Yeah, this has to be Kakashi… but where is—
There was a knock on the window, which I was facing and there was Hikaru waving and grinning like an idiot. He wasn't waving at me though, he was waving at Kakashi. What in the hell is Hikaru doing?
Kakashi sighed and as his soft steps grew nearer I shut my eyes. I heard the window open and Kakashi ask, "What are you doing?"
"Oh noooothing," replied Hikaru with his usual innocent teenage charm. "I was just in the neighborhood and it seemed like a good idea to just drop by and say hi."
I really wanted to open my eyes and see how Kakashi was reacting to Hikaru's bullshit but I wasn't ready to risk being caught.
"That still doesn't explain why you're knocking on my window."
Hikaru laughed, "We're ninjas! Do I really need to explain?"
There was an awkward silence and I was trying as hard as I could to keep my face dead serious. Hikaru would say that.
"That's not a valid excuse to refrain from using a door like everyone else."
"Why not, it's a perfect excuse! Doors are for suckers."
There was another awkward silence. If Kakashi's face doesn't have some sort of expression, he must be a robot. Hikaru is such a dork.
"Hey, hey…" I could hear Hikaru jump through the window and walk toward the bed. "Kakashi! What's that in your bed there?" Kakashi didn't answer so Hikaru persisted, "A lady? Someone got lucky, eh?"
Hikaru, you might be my best friend but I hate you so much right now. If I could command the skies, you would be a pile of dust this very instant. If I could command the ocean, you would be cast off into the sea by a gigantic wave. If I could command the earth, the ground would have swallowed you whole. Fortunate for Hikaru, I can't do any of those things.
"No," replied Kakashi in his usual aloof manner.
Wait, nothing happened between us? I gave myself a small victory hug and did a victory dance in my head. I know I make an idiot of myself when I'm drunk but there is no way I would sleep with Kakashi.
"To your misfortune?"
"What part of no—"
"It's a dude, isn't it?"
"AND YOU LOOK LIKE A CHICK, YOU DOUCHEBAG!" I yelled from under the covers.
Oops.
Before Hikaru or Kakashi could react I pulled the sheets around me and pulled my body into fetal position. Way to blow your cover, idiot. Hikaru was obviously doing this to get a reaction out of you. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
"Hisako!" Hikaru exclaimed sarcastically. "What are you doing here? Well more like who aren't you doing here?"
"I'll kill you Hikaru!"
I can already picture the stupid grin Hikaru has on his face this very moment. That grin is going to turn into a grimace of agony once I get through with him later. Stupid best friend, I'm going to KILL him. Destroy, Slaughter, ELIMINATE FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. His physical matter will be gone in a matter of seconds! Mark my words, shit is gonna go down.
Besides Hikaru laughing, there was silence.
Kakashi sat on the edge of the bed in silence. I could tell it wasn't Hikaru because I couldn't hear his laughing come any closer. I opened the sheets just enough so I could see where Kakashi was. To my misfortune he was looking at me.
"Hisako? Are you okay?"
Kakashi sounded so apologetic that I felt bad for ever suspecting that he took advantage of my drunken state.
I closed the sheets again, "Hikaru!"
Hikaru finally stopped laughing and replied, "Yes?"
"Get out."
There was silence.
"Are you—"
"Yes I'm fucking serious!" I yelled from under the sheets. "Get OUT. You're suppose to be helping the situation, not making it worst so get the fuck out."
I think Hikaru realized that he fucked up because he simply sighed, "Fine, fine. I'll wait for you outside." I heard his footsteps head out the door but I didn't peak my head out of the sheets until I heard the door close.
I didn't really want to face Kakashi after what happened last night… well not that I remember much of what happened last night but I'm in his bed, which means it must have been bad. Anyway, I need to clear things up with him eventually so I should probably do it right now.
"I'm sorry…" I reluctantly broke the awkward silence.
"Sorry about what?"
"You know… last night."
"Oh… that," he scratched his head, almost like he was acting puzzled in order to make me feel better. "That's nothing to be sorry about. It was mostly my fault."
I clutched the sheets harder. "Well it wasn't really your fault… I'm going to be honest and say I really wanted to be drunk."
"Liar."
I glared at Kakashi but he only smiled.
Great, now he's trying to embarrass me.
I hid my face under the covers and said, "How am I lying? I'm pretty sure I know myself better than you."
"Alright, how come every time I mention Arashi, you do something rash?"
I turned my body face-down and said, "That's not true…"
"Really?"
"Yes, really," I snapped.
If my head weren't throbbing with this growing pain, the room would be dead silent. Grr… I hate hangovers… especially this one since it's making everything ten times worst. I remember back in the day when hangovers were like fairy tales: not real.
I felt the bed move when Kakashi stood up. His light footsteps went toward the kitchen and back in a matter of seconds but I still didn't move. He placed something next to my covered face, sat back down on the bed, and didn't say a word.
I waited a couple of seconds but he still wouldn't break the awkward silence. My hand quickly shot out and brought the leather bound item under the covers. Wow, my body seems to have a mind of it's own today.
I didn't really have to look at the leather bound book in order to know it was my journal. My body seemed to recognize the familiar scent and shape of it. I held it close to my chest and took a deep breath.
"Kakashi, did you read it?"
"Should I have read it?"
"I don't know, it would have given you an upper hand against my future plots to destroy your life."
I don't know whether Kakashi found comment funny or not but the atmosphere felt a bit less tense. I found it chuckle worthy but my hangover overpowered my sense of humor. I poked my head out of the sheets in order to look at Kakashi. He was staring out in the open when I asked, "So, did you?"
Kakashi stood still for a bit but then he shook his head. "No."
For some reason, his lack of interest in my deepest darkest secrets disappointed me. My stomach felt empty and hollow which felt like an upcoming depression. I hid my head under the covers again and bit my lip. "Do you still want to know why I hate it when Arashi is mentioned?" I didn't even wait for his answer. I pushed my journal out of the covers and said, "Turn to page one hundred and twenty-five."
Hikaru P.O.V.
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you."
-Rita Mae Brown
Would I sound gay if I said that flowers have always fascinated me? Well whether I do or not, I will say it. Flowers have always fascinated me but mostly because they are a symbol for some sort of feeling or wish a person has deep inside his or her heart. Those feelings are usually difficult to describe so they come here, pick up a flower or two, and hope that these delicate beings will somehow explain exactly how they feel.
Scary, isn't it? This is why every time I sell a flower or a complex flower arrangement, I ask them for a story. Usually the only question I have to ask is, who is this for, and the whole truth comes rolling right out. I try to personalize every single flower arrangement I sell… after all, no one person is completely a like another.
"Ani-san!," screeched Ino even though I was practically ten feet away from her. She hung her apron next to the cash register and said, "I'm going out…"
"To stalk Sasuke?" I teased as I gathered a sunflower for the flower arrangement my nimble fingers are working on. No one has ordered one yet, but I had a feeling the right customer is bound to come in through that door any minute now.
Ino blushed. Knowing her it's because I caught her in the act and not because she's angry… Well actually, maybe it's a little bit of both. I don't know, girls are weird, especially Ino because she can be such a stereotype sometimes. "No, I'm going out to train."
I snorted as I walked over to the counter where my masterpiece was intently waiting. "Sure, whatever you say. Just remember to keep your legs shut, got it?"
Ino didn't even respond to my quirky remark like Hisako would have. Instead of fighting it, she sighed and left without another word. I guess she's gotten used to the fact that she'll never win with me. That's no fun. I guess twelve years of teasing have taught her a great and valuable lesson: never question your ani-san; he's always right.
I grinned at my ridiculous reasoning and decided that this arrangement only needed a single sunflower. It's so simple that it's beautiful. I swear, sometimes I amaze even myself. Before I had time to put away my beautiful creation, I heard the door open. I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. I'm just surprised that it took him so long to come here.
I pushed my hair away from my eyes and leaned against the table for a bit. "How's it going Kakashi?"
It had been a couple of days since Hisako and his predicament. I still don't know what happened during the time I wasn't in the room. Maybe this is the perfect time to find out.
I turned around, saw Kakashi looking at the red roses, and rolled my eyes. How cheesy… sometimes I wonder what Hisako would do without me.
Before Kakashi could respond I said, "If you're looking for something to give Hisako, roses are the worst thing you could ever give her."
"Who says they're for her?"
I held back a snort, carefully lifted my flower arrangement from the table, and said, "Your obvious advances on Hisako say they are."
Burn, bitch. BURN!
It was such a major burn that, for once, Kakashi didn't have anything to say. Instead he continued to browse around almost as if he were waiting for some kind of epiphany to hit him even though I know it won't.
I just have that magical effect on people.
I started to walk around the flower shop, just for the hell of it. "Red roses remind Hisako of dead people. Plus that's what everyone gave her while she was in the hospital…"
He still didn't respond, so I continued, "Red, red roses… almost as if she were dead herself. Well actually… in a way she did sort of die during those couple of days…"
"Wouldn't you?"
"Well… yes… and no."
There was silence… an awkward silence. I hate them so much. Unfortunately silences such as these force me to say things such as, "Is Hisako still mad at me?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?"
I stopped in front of the sunflowers. "As much as it pains me to admit it, she won't talk to me."
Kakashi still hadn't stopped browsing. "She has a good reason to. You went a bit far…"
I snorted, "I went a little too far? Speak for yourself Kakashi."
Suddenly, I felt like destroying something beautiful.
I quickly dropped the flowers on the counter, walked back to the sunflowers, and held one in my hand. I tried with all of my might to hold it as delicately as possible. I wanted to crush it in the palm of my hand but at the same time I didn't. "How are you in her good graces, yet I'm given the cold shoulder?"
Kakashi stopped pacing and the room was dead silent. "Hikaru, are you jealous?"
Another dead silence. I swear, I think these things follow Kakashi around or something because they seem to be all over the place today.
"No, I am frustrated with the fact that she chose to talk to you over me."
"Exactly, jealousy."
I sighed and turned to look over at Kakashi who was by the white roses this time. "Kakashi, if I ever felt that you were some sort of threat to me, I would have destroyed you a long time ago. Trust me, it isn't jealousy."
Kakashi smiled. "Whatever you say… you're more like Hisako than you think."
"Well obviously," I replied. "We have been like two peas in a pod since our academy days. I know her like the back of my hand."
"Really?"
"Really."
Why does it feel like Kakashi knows something I don't.
Impossible.
"Then tell me Hikaru, what are her favorite flowers?"
"Sunflowers."
"Why?"
"They remind her of spring."
"Who does she like?"
"You obviously."
Whoops.
Oh well, he was bound to find out sooner or later… by either Hisako or me.
Before he could respond to my mishap, I threatened him. "Break her heart and I'll break your neck."
Kakashi smiled, "I wouldn't put it past you Hikaru."
I rolled my eyes and threw the sunflower at Kakashi. He caught it with ease and asked, "What's this for?"
I folded my hands in front of my chest and said, "She likes simple things to start things off. If you get her anything more than a flower, she'll reject you."
Kakashi looked at the flower and twirled it between his fingers. "She doesn't like to be doted upon?"
"She does but with attention instead of gifts."
"Oh… well, thank you."
I snorted and got behind the register's counter. "Thank me when you hit a homerun. You're not even at first base yet… wait, did you two do anything?"
Kakashi was silent.
"I'm not going to make fun of youuuuuu, calm down."
He smiled. I could tell he was holding back a laugh.
Wow, Kakashi seems to have learned the power of sarcasm.
I leaned on the counter and continued, "How far did you get with her?"
Kakashi looked down at the floor and then down at the sealing. He continued to fiddle around with the sunflower until the awkward silence killed him. "Second base."
I think this is the worst let down I have ever had in my life. There is no way he's telling me the truth. No fucking way. No man in his right mind would only go to second base with a woman who is completely willing, sober or drunk, to have sex with him. No fucking way. "… you're joking, right?"
"Do I look like the type of person that would?"
I took a deep breath and exhaled. Okay Hikaru, calm yourself… I mean, look at the bright side. Hisako still has an ace up her sleeve and she doesn't have any regrets. That's good… Why am I trying to console myself?
"Kakashi, you are known as a genius… but I'm slowly starting to doubt that."
"I never knew you thought so highly of me," he replied dryly.
"I never knew you were so clueless when it came to communication with the opposite sex… but maybe that's why Hisako likes you."
Kakashi shot me an inquisitive look. "What's that suppose to mean?"
Suddenly, I've become annoyed with Kakashi's company. This man is so clueless. "It means get out of here, go see Hisako, and keep on doing what you're doing because strangely enough, it's working."
Kakashi's steps were now going toward the door. "I'll put in a good word for you with Hisako… or better yet."
He walked back towards me and threw the flower at me.I caught it before it hit the ground and quickly examined it. It was a miracle that this sunflower was still intact. It's been thrown around so much these past couple of minutes.
I looked back up at Kakashi and he was already half way out the door when he said, "I have to go check in with my squad so you should probably go see her."
"Some boyfriend you are Kakashi," I retorted.
He smiled at my remark and continued, "She's been sick for the past couple of days which is probably why she isn't talking to you." He walked out of the shop and left me standing there dumbfounded.
Well fuck you too, Kakashi.
